Surprising Caregiver Nutrition: Peanut Butter

Caregivers in Northbrook IL

As a family caregiver one of you most important efforts for your elderly parent is to make sure that she gets the nutrition that she needs to stay healthy and strong. While there are some foods that you know are healthy and should be included in your regular menu, such as fruits and veggies, there are other options as well. Some foods are nutritional powerhouses without seeming like it, and the best part about them is that they are delicious and familiar. By offering foods that your aging parent already enjoys you can feel confident knowing that she will consistently get what her body needs.

​One of these surprisingly nutritious familiar foods is peanut butter. This may seem like one of those foods that you should be steering clear from in your caregiver journey, but the truth is that your parent can feel free to enjoy this tasty familiar food regularly and you can still know that she is doing good for her body. Some of the nutritional benefits of peanut butter include:

• Curbing cravings. The high calorie count of peanut butter often makes dieters wary. While a serving does contain up to 200 calories, it also contains an impressive 8 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. Both of these nutrients are filling and satisfying, and have fantastic staying power. This means that your parent is going to get a lot of satiety and energy for those 200 calories. This will help her to resist cravings for other foods and cut down her calorie count throughout the rest of the day.

• Feeling indulged. Many people who are trying to lose weight struggle because they feel that they are always missing out on something. Peanut butter has an indulgent and luxurious flavor and mouthfeel. This means that your parent can feel like she is having a treat, cutting down on the feelings of deprivation.

• Lower risk of diabetes. If you are like many family caregivers, the thought of your parent developing diabetes is something you worry about. Serving her peanut butter, however, can help you feel a bit more at ease. Research has shown that consuming 1 ounce of nuts, including peanut butter, five days a week slashes the chances of developing diabetes by as much as 30 percent.In addition to these benefits, peanut butter is packed with vitamins and minerals that support healthy bones, stronger vision, and faster healing of wounds and injuries. It also supports a strong immune system and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. While you can always eat a peanut butter sandwich or lick it right off the spoon, try some of these ways to get the nutritional benefits of peanut butter:

Add some of the powdered version to your favorite smoothie

Warm it up in the microwave and drizzle it over vanilla Greek yogurt

Mix it with oats, dried fruit, flaxseed, and a little bit of whole wheat flour to create natural energy bites

Slather it on fruit for a power-packed protein and carbohydrates snack.